❓ Dr. Walker questions WA's progress on 2025 National Packaging Targets and proposes a container return program for medicinal cannabis packaging. The government acknowledges reform is needed and highlights investments in recycling infrastructure and collaboration with the Commonwealth.
AnsweredQoN 600Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
WASTE — 2025
NATIONAL PACKAGING TARGETS
600. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the parliamentary secretary representing the
Minister for Environment :
I refer the minister to Australia's
2025 National Packaging Targets, which I commend the government for signing up
to, as well as to the increasing number of medicinal cannabis patients with
legal prescriptions here in WA.
(1) Is WA on target to achieve the
2025 National Packaging Targets?
(2) If no to (1), what plans does
the Cook government have in place to ramp up recycling?
(3) Will the
minister consider—as has been proposed in some Canadian jurisdictions—a
container return program for glass and plastic medicinal cannabis packaging
and, indeed, other medicinal packaging going forward, so as to further reduce
waste; and, if not, why not?
NATIONAL PACKAGING TARGETS
600. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the parliamentary secretary representing the
Minister for Environment :
I refer the minister to Australia's
2025 National Packaging Targets, which I commend the government for signing up
to, as well as to the increasing number of medicinal cannabis patients with
legal prescriptions here in WA.
(1) Is WA on target to achieve the
2025 National Packaging Targets?
(2) If no to (1), what plans does
the Cook government have in place to ramp up recycling?
(3) Will the
minister consider—as has been proposed in some Canadian jurisdictions—a
container return program for glass and plastic medicinal cannabis packaging
and, indeed, other medicinal packaging going forward, so as to further reduce
waste; and, if not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank
the honourable member for some notice of the question. On behalf of the
Minister for Environment; Cli mate Action, I provide the following
answer.
(1) The
effectiveness of Australia's current national co-regulatory framework
was independently reviewed in 2021 and found that significant reform is needed.
Environment ministers have agreed to reform the current system, and the
commonwealth is developing new mandatory requirements for packaging under the federal Recycling and Waste Reduction Act 2020—the
RAWR Act—that will replace the current co- regulatory arrangement
by the end of 2025.
(2) The Western Australian
government and commonwealth government are partnering to invest a total of $70 million
in WA's recycling projects through the recycling modernisation fund.
The PRESIDENT : Order,
member. Your microphone had cut out.
Hon DARREN WEST : Yes. Thank
you, President. The answer continues —
This will help build essential waste
processing and recycling infrastructure for plastics, tyres, paper and
cardboard, and support businesses to respond to the national export bans on
certain waste types.
(3) The Western Australian
government will continue to work with the Australian government to reform the
packaging framework to ensure all packaging available in Australia is designed
to be recovered, re-used, recycled and reprocessed safely in line with the
circular economy principles.
the honourable member for some notice of the question. On behalf of the
Minister for Environment; Cli mate Action, I provide the following
answer.
(1) The
effectiveness of Australia's current national co-regulatory framework
was independently reviewed in 2021 and found that significant reform is needed.
Environment ministers have agreed to reform the current system, and the
commonwealth is developing new mandatory requirements for packaging under the federal Recycling and Waste Reduction Act 2020—the
RAWR Act—that will replace the current co- regulatory arrangement
by the end of 2025.
(2) The Western Australian
government and commonwealth government are partnering to invest a total of $70 million
in WA's recycling projects through the recycling modernisation fund.
The PRESIDENT : Order,
member. Your microphone had cut out.
Hon DARREN WEST : Yes. Thank
you, President. The answer continues —
This will help build essential waste
processing and recycling infrastructure for plastics, tyres, paper and
cardboard, and support businesses to respond to the national export bans on
certain waste types.
(3) The Western Australian
government will continue to work with the Australian government to reform the
packaging framework to ensure all packaging available in Australia is designed
to be recovered, re-used, recycled and reprocessed safely in line with the
circular economy principles.
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